Sakai Uyehara (a.k.a. George Sakai Uyehara) passed away on Feb. 2, 2022 at the Joan and Diana Hospice House in Kingman, AZ. He was 84 years old.
George was born on February 20, 1937 in Paia, Maui, Territory of Hawaii. His father was Kame Uehara and his mother was Toyo Izu.
In 1955, he graduated from Farrington High School in Kalihi, Oahu, HI. He worked for 1 year for the Post Office in Honolulu, then he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for 4 years before being honorably discharged.
George then moved to California and found employment with the State Compensation Insurance Fund on March 6, 1963, starting in the Los Angeles office, then transferring to the Ventura office. In Ventura, he was active in the Ukulele Club of Venture County for 15 years.
In 1980, George joined the Big Brothers organization, mentoring 5 young boys for 10 years, at which time he was named “Big Brother of the Year” in his final year of volunteering.
In 1997, he married his wife, Danna Cusson. He retired in 2000 after 37 wonderful years with State Fund.
George and Danna moved to Kingman, AZ to care for her father, Henry Cusson. George joined the Senior Center in Kingman and was soon entertaining weekly at various nursing homes with his singing and ukulele playing. He did this to honor the memory of his father-in-law.
Always a helper, George volunteered to “Stand Kettles,” ringing the bell for the Salvation Army for 10 years. He was always stationed at Smith’s grocery, come rain, snow, or shine.
At age 84, George gave up his driver’s license and applied for a Travel ID, only to find the name “George” was not on his birth certificate, only the middle name of “Sakai” (hence the a.k.a. designation).
George attended the Seventh-Day Adventist church, singing hymns and playing the ukulele each sabbath service. He is now asleep with the Lord, awaiting the glorious second coming of Jesus.
George’s remains will be at the National Cemetery at Punchbowl, Honolulu, HI.
George is predeceased by his parents, Kame and Toyo Uehara; brothers Robert (Merna), Thomas (Joyce), Kenneth (Ellen), Dennis (Carol); and his sister Jean (Seichi).
George is survived by his wife of 24 years, Danna Cusson Uyehara of Kingman, AZ; step-son Tommy Lee (Patti) Farris of Mountainburg, AR; step-daughter Sharla Renee Derry of Greenwood, AR; and brother Wallace of Gardena, CA. He is also survived by nieces Tracy Scott of Long Beach, CA and Terry (Cesar) Ancheta of Chino Hills, CA and their children; Sandy (Randy) Hew of La Habra, CA and their children; sister-in-law Merna Uehara of Oceanside, CA; and many other nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews in California and Hawaii.
